Charleston, South Carolina, is a beautiful historical city (established in 1670) made up of 26 neighborhoods. Here, you’ll find plenty to do: top-tier shopping, live performances, and delicious restaurants. But in order to enjoy this menu of entertainment options, you’ll have to search for a parking spot first!
Horse-drawn carriages block the roads (as do the crowds of Charleston locals)–and to make matters worse, parking spots fill up fast.
The last thing you want to do when you’re working on a time crunch and trying to make your 7-o’clock reservation is struggle with parking. Thankfully, we can help make the parking hunt slightly less stressful with some Charleston parking tips and insider knowledge of local parking rates.
Downtown Charleston Parking Options and Prices
Whether you’re going to dinner for a couple of hours or spending the day in the city of Charleston, there is parking to fit all your needs. Here are your choices and their corresponding rates!
Parking With Parking Meters
Metered street parking is one of the easiest and most affordable options, as you simply find a spot, purchase meter time, and explore. Downtown Charleston metered street parking rates are $2.00 per hour with a maximum duration of 2 hours. Note that there are a few metered parking lots that you can use for the same rate, but they have varying time limits.
Charleston metered lot locations include the following:
- 1 George Street (1-4 hour options)
- 34 and 54 Alexander Street (1-4 hour options)
- 33 Archdale Street (10 hours)
- 45 Archdale Street (2 hours)
- Cone Street (1-2 hours)
- 19 South Adgers Wharf (10 hours)
- Gillon Street (2 hours)
Parking meters apply Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays and official city holidays are free. They accept the convenient payment method of major credit cards, coins, and Charleston’s SmartCard.
City Holidays include:
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Presidents’ Day
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Rates at Parking Garages
Charleston city parking garages are strategically located near popular attractions for convenience and can protect your car from the weather. Garages are your best option if you plan to stay in the downtown area for more than a few hours.
Charleston parking garages charge in half-hour increments of $1.00 per half-hour. Thankfully, most cap rates at a maximum amount of $18.00 per day, which is a great deal if you’re spending the entire day or a couple of days! Note that garages are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and take cash and credit card payments.
Some great parking garage locations include the following:
- Aquarium Garage at 24 Calhoun Street
- Visitor Center Garage at 63 Mary Street
- Charleston Place Garage at 85 Hasell Street
- Midtown Garage at 558 King Street
Weekend and Night Rates
Since your maximum parking payment per day is $18.00, parking for a two-day weekend will only cost you $36.00.
But there are ways to save on Charleston parking. If your visit falls on a Sunday, your parking could be free if you opt for metered parking spots. And overnight parking in Charleston, SC, is free at metered spots from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m.
Some parking lots and garages also offer discounted rates on weekends and nights. For example, the Visitor Center Garage offers a $7.00 flat rate fee after 3 p.m. and $5.00 after 5 p.m. on weekends and nights. These rates stop after 3 a.m.
The following places offer flat rate fees of $5.00 after 5 p.m.:
- East Bay Garage
- Majestic Garage
- 93 Queen Street Garage (also offers a flat rate of $7.00 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
Long-Term Parking Rates
Unfortunately, monthly parking options in Charleston’s lots and garages are very limited. While there is no waiting list, you can call ABM Management at 843-805-3232 for additional parking information and to routinely check if any spots open up.
But while Charleston’s city lots and garages don’t have monthly availability, Neighbor, a peer-to-peer storage marketplace, does! You can find plenty of car storage options throughout downtown Charleston with the click of a button.
Free Parking
Finding free parking spots in downtown Charleston during the week is very difficult, as there aren’t many available. However, you can find them scattered on Broad Street and Meeting Street. People with disabilities are eligible for free parking by simply displaying their placards in their windows.
Free street parking is available in Charleston, SC, at metered spots and lots on official city holidays, Sundays, and after 6 p.m. during the week.
Residential streets allow free parking–but you are typically limited to 1-3 hours. To avoid a ticket, you’ll also want to be careful not to park on lawns or in front of houses.
Downtown Charleston Parking Tips
Parking spots and facilities are always in high demand in downtown Charleston, making them challenging to find. Here are some tips to keep in mind when searching for parking.
Use Interactive Parking Maps
If you need help finding parking, using an interactive map is usually the best option.
Using the ParkMe website or mobile app on Apple and Google devices will provide you with everything you need. Here, you’ll be able to find parking and pay for it ahead of time (if your garage or lot of choice allows it). Note that you cannot pre-pay for metered spots.
Use the HOP Shuttle and Rideshare Options
You’re on the hunt for affordable parking in downtown Charleston. But sometimes, the time commitment involved just isn’t worth the relatively minimal savings. If this is the case and you’d rather avoid the inconvenience altogether, public transportation might be more your style.
The HOP shuttle runs every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily, and the cost is $5.00 per day. It allows you to park in the HOP shuttle lot and take the shuttle to stops on East Bay Street, Broad Street, and Meeting Street.
You can also use third-party rideshare options like Uber or Lyft to get around downtown.
Final Thoughts
Knowing your downtown Charleston parking options ahead of time can be vital in helping you budget and plan your trip. You can’t do much exploring if you have no idea where to leave your car or how much it will be!
Whether you’re planning to move to Charleston or are planning a long-term vacation, your options for city-run parking are limited. Instead, you should check out Neighbor, a peer-to-peer marketplace that offers affordable car storage options in all 50 states. These choices are up to 50% cheaper than other traditional storage options, and you can even become a host yourself after you’re settled!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Report a Malfunctioning Parking Meter in Charleston?
To report a malfunctioning parking meter, you’ll need to call the Revenue Collections Parking Division Office at 843-724-7375. Or you can submit an online request through the Citizen Service Desk.
Where Do You Park for the Charleston City Market?
The best places to park for the Charleston City Market are the Church Street Garage and the Charleston Place Garage. They’re both a short couple-minute walk from the market.
